How to choose the best outfit for your outdoor photo shoot

The best outfit for your outdoor photo shoot

What should you wear for your outdoor photo session? Are there any hints how to choose the best outfit for your photo shoot? And is it really that important?

When I started my career of a lifestyle photographer, I used to say that the rule number one is that you feel comfortable in the clothes which you are wearing during your photo session. After years of being in photography business I learned a lot. Yeah, to feel comfortable is still the most important, however, there also some more points you could consider when getting ready for your lifestyle photo shoot.

TIP 1: Wear something COMFORTABLE

The truth is that nothing is more annoying than the straps on your dress that are constantly falling off your shoulders, jeans so tight that you can barely breath, and low-cut dress that keeps you thinking about all your movements and worrying about not revealing more than you want.

If your clothes are not comfortable, it is often not easy to relax and enjoy the photo shoot. And believe me or not, you mood during the photo session imprints into the photographs.

TIP 2: MATCH YOUR STYLE with the others

Regarding the style of your clothes, there are no strict rules. Just let’s avoid the moments when one is wearing long sleeve shirt and suit trousers, while the other has ragged jeans and T-shirt with Katty Perry on. Anyway, too formal outfit is not the best option for a lifestyle photo shoot, and neither are the T-shirts with large prints and glitters, which drag the attention away from the people themselves.

TIP 3: COLOR CORDINATE the clothes you are all wearing

If there are more people to be photographed, it is nice when you color coordinate the clothes you are all wearing. This doesn’t mean you all should wear the outfits of the same color. Rather than that, pay attention that there are not too many different colors and patterns.

Generally, it looks good when clients choose approximately two to three main colors that are repeated in the clothing of each individual. Crucial are also the hues and shades that you choose. In this respect, it very much depends on the season in which the photo shoot takes place. Pastel colors are the best option for spring and summer landscapes, whereas warm and rich colors are more fitting for autumn and winter photo shooting. You can read more about what colors are best for which season here.

Further, be careful not to combine too many patterns at once. Wide stripes, thin stripes and dots combined with tartar pattern is not the very best idea. Remember that two different patterns are more than enough.

TIP 4: Don’t be afraid to BE YOURSELF

Feel free to make the photo shoot spicy! You don’t have to be afraid of wearing accessorize like hats, scarves, and interesting jewelry, these can add flair into your photo shoot! I only advise against baseball caps as they obscure people’s faces and create unwanted shadows.

Lipstick can make you look amazing but consider if you want to wear it during a photo shoot with little kids as I love to capture the moments when your kids come into your arms and get kisses from you all over their cheeks. And I mean true kisses, not just the staged one.

Mentioning lipstick brings me to the idea of white and very bright clothing. If your kids are like mine, you already know you will probably not wear white for a family photo shoot. For others, please consider this point as sometimes, I like to get kids running wild and jumping like crazy… and the parents are not spared!

Sounds like you need to get a new outfit?

The truth is that your clothing has a crucial impact on how your photographs will look like. However, lifestyle photo shoot is about authenticity and spontaneity. It’s about you and your time together with those you love. It is about creating memories.

Therefore, one very last tip at the end…

TIP 5: Wear outfit that will CREATE MEMORIES

Don’t borrow your dress, or buy something you will only wear on the day of the photo shoot. Don’t deprive yourself of the moments when you look at the photographs in a couple of years and say: “Look, these were my favorite dress!”